Rotatable top stove



May Zl, 1935. c. EHRET ROTATABLE TOR STOVE Filed Sept. 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l c. EHRET 2,001,714

ROTATABLE TOP STOVE Filed Sept. 8, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 21, 1935;

INVENTOR.

Geri/e172 Ehref ATTORNEY.

Patented May 21, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

This invention relates to stoves and is directed more particularly to cooking stoves provided with rotatable tops.

In practically carrying out the present invention, I provide a stove body of any appropriate to bring pots at the back of the stove into con-' venient position at the front of the stove, it will, when released, automatically return to a predetermined position of rest, so that when pots are placed on the stove over a burner and said burner is properly adjusted, the stove top when released after rotation will immediately return to a predetermined position with the particular pots in proper cooperation with the burners over which they were originally positioned. In other words, while the stove top is rotatable at will, it will,

' when released after rotation, automatically reassume a predetermined position of rest, so that it is impossible to leave pots positioned over the wrong burners if they were originally positioned over burners correctly adjusted for their particular requirements.

In the preferred practical form of the invention, the rotatable top portion of the stove is mounted upon appropriate anti-friction means to be readily rotated and is normally impelled by spring or weight actuated means into a definite position of rest, so that when manually removed from this position, it will return to such position as soon as released. However, the return movement of the rotatable part must nevertheless be controlled so that the speed of return is sufliciently slow to preclude dislodgment or shifting of the pots due to the inertia or momentum thereof. To render the operation smooth and uniform and to preclude sudden jerks or too rapid stopping, the spring or weight controlled mechanism has preferably associated therewith a speed governor of some approved type as hereinafter more fully described.

Features of the invention other than those adverted to, will be apparent from the hereinafter tion as applied to a gas stove.

detailed description and claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate different practical embodiments of the invention, but the constructions therein shown are to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a stove embodying the present invention and wherein the whole stove top is rotatable.

ure 2 is a fragmental' section through the governor mechanism, the same being taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

v Figure 3 is a fragmental vertical section of a stove wherein only the central portion of the top is rotatable.

Figure 4 is a fragmental vertical section of a stove employing a weight as a means for retuming the stove top or a portion thereof .into predetermined position.

Figure 5 is a fragmental vertical section of a modified form of means for returning the stove top into a predetermined position.

The stove of the present invention may be of conventional shape, or may be of any suitable shape or design and may utilize any suitable fuel, such as gas, coal, electricity, oil or the like, but for the purpose of illustration, I have shown in the accompanying drawings the present inven- In Figure 1, I have shown this gas stove as comprising a body I of substantially conventional form supported on legs 2 and having an oven 3. The oven is adapted to be heated from a burner 4 fed from any suitable source of fuel supply through an appropriate control valve forming no part of this invention. Burners 5 of conventional form are employed for cooking on the top of the stove and these are fed in the usual manner through control cocks 6 from a manifold l. The parts thus far described may be wholly conventional and I-make no claim for this structure except insofar as it is used in conjunction with the top of the stove which embodies the present invention.

In Figure 1, the top of the stove is designated 8. It may be in the form of one or more sheet metal stampings or of a casting or of a combination of both and is provided around its outer margin with a depending skirt 9. On the inner side of this skirt are mounted a plurality of antifriction rollers ill adapted to travel in a runway or guide formed by two angle members II and i2 preferably secured by means of bolts l3 to the upper part of the stove body, so as to be rigid with or without lids as y be desired.

, depending flange Ml.

Extending vertically through the stove body is a length of tubing to which is held rigidly in place in any suitable manner as by means of nuts it screwed upon this tubing. The upper end of the tubing extends above the top of the stove body and into proximity with the top member 9i and attached to the top member 3 above the tubing is a flexible cable il. This cable extends downwardly through the tubing and is secured to a drum to. The drum it is mounted within a housing to bolted or riveted to the bottom of a stove body, so as to be firmly secured in position. A spindle 20 extends coaxially of the housing and on this spindle the drum it is fixed. Also fixed on the spindle is a governor 2i and beyond the governor a coil spring 22 is arranged within the casing with the inner end of the coil spring secured to the spindle and the outer end of such coil spring secured to the casing. The governor 2!! may be of any approved type, but is here shown as embodying a pair of weights 23 pivoted to a hub 26 and normally drawn inwardly by means of springs 25, the tension of which is adjustable by adjusting screws 25. The weights 23 are adapted to cooperate with a friction lining 2i secured to the interior of the housing and as the speed of the spindle increases sufllciently to overcome the tension of the springs 25, the weights are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force and bear against the friction lining to brake the spindle.

The parts are so arranged that when in the position of Figure 1, the stove top will be at rest with the point of attachment of the cable ill to said top directly above the upper end of the tube l5. This is the normal'position of rest of the top. A portion of the cable will at this time be wound'upon the drum I8, while the spring 22 will be under minimum but slight tension. Now,

if the cook desires to have access to a pot at the back of the stove, she grasps any portion of the top 8 or skirt 9 and rotates the top in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to bring directly before her the pot in question. If desired, the top may be provided with a circular ring extending beyond the skirt 9 and forming a convenient handle for rotating the top, but I have not thought it necessary to show this independent means. In the manner stated, the top may be rotated to bring the pot into the desired position and during this movement of the top the cable I! will be drawn upwardly through the tube and fed out from the top thereof so as to wind about the flange ll.

As the cable is fed out as stated, it will rotate the drum l8 and wind up the spring 22, so that when the top is released the tension of the spring will tend to rewind the cable and return the top to its initial position. In so doing, however, it will actuate the governor which will function in the usual manner as a speed governor and thus control the speed of rotation of the top in its I return movement. This speed may be readily adjusted by manipulation of the screws 26, so

anemia that it may be sufficiently fast to provide for an expeditious operation and at the same time be suficiently slow as to preclude dislodging or shifting of the pots on the stove top.

A marked advantage of the structure of Figure l. is that the stove top may be rotated in either direction through any number of angular degrees depending upon the length of the cable. In any event, when it is released, it will immediately return at a regulated speed to its initial position of rest. As a result, pots may be placed on the stove in proper relationship to the particular burners and these burners may be adjusted to suit requirements of the pots individually. Thereafter the top may be rotated for temporary convenient access to any one pot, but as soon as the top is released, it will return automatically and will with complete accuracy replace the pots in their initial positions over their respective burners.

The structure of Figure 3 is similar in many respects to the structure of Figures 1 and 2. The main difference is that the peripheral portion 28 of the top of the stove in Figure 3 is stationary, while the central portion 29 is rotatable. i

This is provided for by forming the portion 283 with a flanged track to to support rollers 30 mounted on an angle ring 32 which is secured by means of a bolt 33 to the rotatable part 29.

The cable ll is anchored to the part 32 as in- 1 dicated at 3 5 and passes downwardly through the tubelb to the drum, governor and spring mechanism as in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 3, the cable leaves the upper end of the tube to over a roller 35 mounted on a. swivel cap 35 which is free to rotate on the tube and this swivel cap swings around as the cable is fed out so as to give a straight lead to the cable. A swivel cap of the kind shown in Figure 3 or any suitable equivalent means may be employed in the construction of Figure 1.

In the constructions of Figures 1-3, the return of the stove top or a portion thereof into normal position is accomplished by a spring. If desired, this may be accomplished by a weight.

Figure 4 shows diagrammatically the manner in which this may be accomplished. The cable I! in this figure is led downwardly through the tube l5, given one or more turns about the drum I8 and then passed about a roller 31 of a weight 38 and thence carried upwardly and secured to a bracket 39 which serves to support one end of a governor spindle 40. The other end of the governor spindle is supported by a bracket 4| and the outer face of this bracket has a friction surface 42 cooperating with the friction member 43 of the governor sleeve with which is associated a conventional ball governor 44. The stove top is rotated as in any of the preceding figures, but when released the weight returns it to its normal position of rest, while the governor controls the speed of such return for, as the governor balls fly outwardly, they draw the friction member 43 against the friction surface 42 and slow down the operation to the extent desired. Thus either a spring or a weight may be employed to return the stove top to its initial position.

In Figure 5, I-have shown a modified form of construction which may be applied to the whole or a portion only of the top of the stove. As shown the whole top of the stove is rotatable, the part 8 being provided with a removable cover portion So having stove lids 8b, one above each burner, although a grid may be employed if des The part 8 has a depending skirt 9. The lower end of this skirt is provided with an internal gear. This gear may be made separate from and secured to the skirt, but, as shown, the lower end of the skirt is flanged in as at and teeth are cut in the edge of the flange. Teeth thus formed are adapted to cooperate with a gear 46 mounted on the shaft 41. On the shaft 41 is fixed a governor ll of the structure shown in Figure 2 and beyond the governor is a coil spring 49, the inner end of which is secured to the shaft 41, while the outer end of the spring is secured to a casing 50. The casing is set into a small opening in the side of the stove body I and is secured in place by means of bolts 5| so as to be spaced from the stove body by spacers .52. The side of the casing is cut away to provide a slot 53 and through this slot the toothed flange 6 extends into mesh with the gear 46. This structure is extremely compact and its presence is scarcely discernible on the stove. Nevertheless it will function perfectly in the carrying out of its intended functions.

With a stove of this character, however, the top of the stove may be manually rotated in only one direction, but it may be rotated throughout 360 degrees or less. When rotated, the spring is wound up and when released the spring returns the top to its initial position of rest. If desired, stops may be provided on the skirt and on the stove body or casing II to engage with the top at the end of its return movement, so that it will always stop in the same position. These stops may be cushioned stops if desired.

It will appear fromthe foregoing description that the stove of this invention is free from the objections hereinbefore referred to as prevalent in the prior art. The structure is relatively simple and the parts are such that are not apt to get out of order or require maintenance or repair.

In certain forms oi the invention which I have.

chosen to illustrate, the whole stove top is rotatable while in another only a portion of the stove top is rotatable. If desired, a portion of the stove top in be stationary while a plurality of diiferent portions may be relatively rotatable without departing from this invention, the scope of which is to be understood as fully coensurate with the appended claims.

In conjunction with a stove of this character, I have found that it is very convenient ii there may be associated with such stove a source of water supply so that water may be introduced into pots on the top oi the stove without necessitating the removal of such pots. This may be accomplished by associating with 'the stove a water supply pipe is which y be secured to the of the stove by a bracket or in any,

other suitable manner, so as to be rigid with the body of the stove projecting above the plane of the top of the stove. The upper end of this pipe may be equipped with a faucet at of any suitable and convenient form so that when it is desired to introduce water into, a pot the top of the stove may be rotated to bring the not under the faucet and the faucet opened to permit water to flow into the pot. The water supply devices shown in Figure 1 may be associated with any stove having a rotatable top in accordance with this invention.

Furthermore, difl'erent forms of governor or difierent types of spring or gearing connections may be employed within the spirit of this invention, and, accordingly, I do not limit the invention to the exact shown.

Moreover, I have particularly chosen to show the present invention in connection with a stove of substantially conventional form and utilizing gas as a fuel, but I wish it understood that the invention may be associated with stoves of radically different shape than the conventional form shown and employing other fuels than gas.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent is:

1. A stove comprising a stove body having a stove top adapted to support cooking receptacles and at least a portion of which top is rotatable relative to the stove body, and means tending to maintain and normally yieldably maintaining said rotatable portion of the stove top in predetermined angular position with reference to the stove body.

2. A stove provided with a rotatable top por-- tion, and tension means for normally maintaining said top portion in a predetermined angular position, said means being automatically yieldable to permit rotation of said top portion away from such position when a rotatlve force is applied to the top portion.

3. A stove provided with a rotatable top portion, and resilient means for normally maintaining said top portion in a predetermined angular position, said means being automatically yieldable to permit rotation of said top portion away from such position when a rotative force is applied to the top portion.

4. A stove provided with a rotatable top portion, means for maintaining said rotatable top portion in a predetermined angular position of rest, said means being yieldable to permit said rotatable top portion to be rotated away from said position of rest and operable to return said top portion to said position of rest.

5. A stove provided with a rotatable top portion, means for maintaining said rotatable top portion in a predetermined angular position of rest, said means being yieldable to permit said rotatable top portion to be rotated away from said position of rest and operable to return said top portion to said position of rest, and means for controlling the speed oil such return movement.

6. A stove provided with a rotatable top portion, means for maintaining said rotatable top portion in a predetermined angular position of rest, said means being yieldable to permit said rotatable top portion to be rotated away from said position of rest and operable to return said top portion to said position oi rest, and a speed governor cooperating with the return means to control the speed of return of said rotatable top portion to said position of rest.

'8'. A stove comprising a stove body, a rotatable top portion, anti-friction means for rotatably mounting said rotatable top portion on the stove body, tension means operatively connected with the rotatable top portion to normally maintain the same in a definite position of rest, said means being yieldable to permit the rotatable top D0 tion to be rotated away from said position of rest, but operable to return the rotatable top portion to the position of rest when the latter is released, and a governor operatively connected with the tension means to control the speed of such return movement.

01' the spring, whereby said spring will return the rotatable top portion to said position of rest when the top portion is released,.and a speed governor for controlling the return movement of the top portion under the impulse of the spring.

.9. A stove having a rotatable top portion, and a spring operatively connected with said rotatable top portion and adapted to be energized when the top portion is manually rotated away from a predetermined position of rest, whereby said spring is adapted to return the rotatable top por-- tion to said position of rest when said rotatable top portion is released.

10. A stove having a rotatable top portion, a cable connected to said rotatable top portion, a drum to which said cable is attached, a spring operatively connected to the drum, said spring beingnormally under sufiicient tension to hold the top portion in a predetermined position of rest and said top portion being rotatable away from said position of rest to withdraw the cable from the drum and thus increase the tension the spring, so that, when the rotatable top portion is released, the spring will again wind the cable on the drum and return the rotatable top portion to its normal position of rest.

11. A stove having a rotatable top portion, a cable connected to said rotatable top portion, a drum to which said cable is attached, a spring operatively connected to the drum, said spring being normally under suflicient tension to hold the top portion in a predetermined position of rest and said top portion being rotatable away from said position of rest to withdraw the cable from the drum and thus increase the tension of the spring, so that, .when the rotatable top portion is released, the spring will again wind the cable on the drum and return the rotatable top portion to its normal position of rest, and a speed governor operatively connected to the drum to control the speed of the drum when the latter is driven by the spring.

12. A stove provided with a rotatable top portion, a drum, a cable secured to said drum, a spring normally tending to wind the cable onto the drum, one end of said cable being secured to the rotatable top portion, a directional guide for leading the cable from the drum to its point of attachment with, the rotatable top portion, whereby, when the top portion is manually rotated, it will uncoil the cable from the drumandplace the spring under tension to condition said spring to rewind the cable on the drum and return the rotatable top portion to its initial position, when said rotatable-top'portion is released.

13. A stove provided with a rotatable top portion, a drum, a cable secured to said drum, a

spring normally tending to wind the cable on to the drum, one end of said cable being secured to the rotatable top portion, a directional guide for leading the cable from the drum to its point 0! attachment .with the rotatable top portion, whereby, when the top portion is manually rotated, it will uncoil the cable from the drum and place the spring under tension to condition said spring to rewind the cable on the drum and return the rotatable top portion to its initial position, when said rotatable top portion is released, and a speed governor cooperating with the drum for controlling the speed of the drum when driven by the spring.

14. A stove having a rotatable top portion, a spring, gearing connections between the rotatable top portion and the spring, said spring being normally tensioned to maintain the rotatable top portion in a predetermined position of rest but permittingsaid rotatable top portion to be manually rotated from said position of rest with concurrent winding of the spring, whereby, when the top portion is released, the spring will return the speed of such-return movement of said rotatable top portion.

16. A stove comprising a relatively stationary body, a rotatable top portion provided with a peripheral depending skirt, the lower edge of which is flanged inwardly and toothed to provide an internal gear, a pinion meshing with said gear, a spring operatively connected with the pinion and normally tending to rotate said top portion to a predetermined position of rest, said top portion being rotatable away from the position ot rest with-conjoint rotation of the gear and pinion and concurrent winding of the spring, and a speed governor operatively connected to the pinion to control the speed of the return movement of said top portion under the impulse of the spring.

.said top portion to its normalposition of rest, I 

